Spark intensifier for spark plugs



- Dec. 20, 1960 T. A. ZALESAK SPARK INTENSIFIER FOR SPARK PLUGS Filed'Aug. 5. 1959 INVENTOR'.

ATTCI R N EYE r 2,965,779 1C6 Patented Dec- 2 1960 SPARK INTENSIFIER FORSPARK PLUGS Thomas A. Zalesak, RD. 2, Box 208, Wallldll, N .Y. FiledAug. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 831,873

3 Claims. (Cl. 313-51) This invention relates to a spark plug adapterfor an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to an adapterfor use with the spark plugs.

The object of the invention is to provide an adapter for use with aspark plug wherein intensity, size, force of the spark will beeffectively increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adapter which willprovide a means for regulating or controlling the spark before it entersthe plug so that the spark will fire through oil or carbon deposits andthe present invention will eliminate the necessity of making spark plugadjustments.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spark plug adapterwhich is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a. part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view with parts broken away and insection, of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is. a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view illustrating the clip before it is formed.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates aconventional spark plug, and according to the present invention a nipple11 is mounted on the upper portion of the spark plug 10, Figure 1. Thenumeral 12 indicates a body member which has its lower portion arrangedin engagement with the upper end of the nipple 11, and mounted in theupper end of the body member 12 is an internally threaded bushing 13.The bushing 13 is internally threaded as indicated by the numeral 14.The numeral 15 indicates an electrode which includes an enlarged head 16on its upper end, and the head 16 is provided with a kerf or slot 17therein whereby the electrode 15 can be rotated by means of a tool suchas a screwdriver. A threaded shank 18 depends from the head 16, and theshank 18 is arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 14of the bushing 13.

The body member 12 is provided with an intermediate inner shoulder 19which has a central opening 20 therein, and arranged above and below theshoulder 19 in the body member 12 are upper and lower chambers 21 and 22for a purpose to be later described.

There is further provided a clip which is indicated generally by thenumeral 23, and the clip 23 includes an upper stem 24 which extendsthrough the opening 20 in the shoulder 19, and as shown in Figure 1 forexample,

there is a gap or space between the upper end of the stem 24 and thelower end of the shank 18. The clip 23 further includes a lower portion25 which is seated in the lower chamber 22. In Figure 6 the clip 23 isshown before it is bent or formed to provide a finished member which isshown in Figure 1.

The numeral 26 indicates a member or clamp which is arranged inengagement with the head 16 on the electrode 15, and a conductor 27 isconnected to the member 26.

The portion 25 of the clip 23 engages the member 28 on the upper end ofthe spark plug 10.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a sparkplug adapter which is especially suitable for use in regulating orcontrolling the intensity or force of the spark from the plug such asthe plug 10. in use with the parts ,arranged as shown in Figure 1, itwill be seen that there is a gap provided between the shank 18 and thestem 24 for the spark to jump across, and this distance or gap size canbe regulated by inserting a tool such as a screwdriver in the slot 17,after the member 26 has been removed from the head. 15. Then, theelectrode 15 can be adjusted so that the gap or distance between themembers 18 and 24 is at the desired position and then the member 26 canbe repositioned on the head 15 so that it will be seen that the adapterof the present invention is adjustable since the electrode 15 can beadjusted or regulated in order to adjust the effectiveness of the spark.This provides a highly advantageous arrangement since the intensity orforce of the spark can be readily controlled or regulated as desired.The nipple 11 helps prevent moisture, foreign matter or the like fromentering the interior of the device and the clip 23 in addition toproviding the stem 24 also provides an anchoring means between the bodymember 12 and the upper end 28 of the spark plug.

The present invention has a minimum number of working parts and will notreadily get out of order even though subjected to rough useage. The head16 receives the spark plug clip 26 and lock nuts are not necessary orrequired. The shank 18 is flat on the bottom as for example as shown inFigure l. The member 23 has a dual purpose, namely it functions as asecondary electrode and it also secures the spark plug clip in place.The parts will not accidentally shake loose or work loose even thoughthe vehicle engine or other engine is subjected to vibrations, as forexample when a vehicle is jolted due to traveling over uneven roads. Thedevice will not short out when driving in rainy weather and frost or thelike will not interfere with the operation thereof. The clip 23 has itsportion 25 which grips the spark plug neck securely and it cannot comeloose except manually. The portion 24 functions as a secondary electrodeand shorting out is prevented due to the insulated skirt on the body ofthe adapter as Well as the protection afforded by the rubber nipple 11.This rubber nipple 11 also takes the shock out of the jolts and bumpsand absorbs the vibrations of the engine. The adjustments which are madeon the electrode 15 can be measured by counting the number of turns thatare screwed in or out according to the threaded sizes. The presentinvention is simple in construction, rugged and highly useful and has aminimum number of parts.

The electrode 15 is the main electrode and its construction includes thehead 15 as well as the threaded shank 18 which is flat on its bottom.The bushing '13 may be made of a suitable material which is strong andthreadedly receives the shank 18, and the bushing 13 may be press fittedinto the upper end of the member 12. The secondary electrode may consistof a rivet like member which serves to secure the spark plug trip to theadapter. The molded rubber nipple I1 fits snug- 1y over the lower end ofthe adapter and the upper end of the spark plug.

The adapter of the present invention provides a means for adjusting thespark and is especially useful for spark plugs of engines and it willincrease the intensity, size and force of the spark before it enters theplug and discharges with such force that it will fire through oil orcarbon deposits and for the life of the plug will eliminate thenecessity of making plug adjustments. It will also eliminate thenecessity of the side electrode on any spark plug that it is used onsince the spark can be adjusted to jump from the electrode to the sideof the plug skirt. In the use of the adapter of the present invention itmakes any plug a lifetime plug for the life of the engine in which it isused. It will have no effect on the coils, condenser, or points becauseit is on the discharge side of the distributor and makes starting easierand in creases gasoline mileage and adds power to the motor.

To install, it is only necessary to pull the wire from the spark plugand snap the adapter on the top of the plug and then snap the wire ontop of the adapter. Adjustments are made by turning the electrode 15 inor out so as to increase or decrease the gap between the members 18 and24. The member 15 screws in or out to make the necessary adjustments.The bushing 13 may be-suitably fastened to the member 12, and the member12 may be made of suitable material such as suitable poreclain type ofmaterial, Bakelite or other heat proof material. The chamber 21constitues the gap chamber for the spark and the gap between the members18 and 24 can be adjusted as previously described.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a body member, an internallythreaded bushing mounted in the upper end of said body member, anelectrode including an enlarged head on its upper end provided with aslot'therein, a threaded shank depending from said head and threadedlyengaging said bushing, there being a shoulder in said body memberintermediate the ends thereof, said shoulder being provided with acentral opening therein, 'there being upper and lower chambers in saidbody member on opposite sides of said shoulder, a clip in the lowerportion seated in said lower chamber, said clip further including anupper stem extending through the opening in said shoulder, there being agap between said stem and shank.

2. In a spark plug adapter, a body member, an internally threadedbushing mounted in the upper end of said body member, an adjustableelectrode including an enlarged head on its upper end provided with aslot therein, a threaded shank depending from said head and threadedlyengaging said bushing, there being a shoulder in said body memberintermediate the ends thereof, said shoulder being provided with acentral opening therein, there being upper and lower chambers in saidbody member on opposite sides of said shoulder, a clip having anenlarged lower portion seated in said lower chamber, said clip furtherincluding a reduced upper stem extending through the opening in saidshoulder, there being a gap between said stem andshank.

3. In a spark plug adapter, a body member, internal- 1y threaded meansmounted in the upper end of said body member, an adjustable electrodeincluding an enlarged head on its upper end, a threaded shank dependingfrom said head and threadedly engaging said means, there being ashoulder in said body member intermediate the ends thereof, saidshoulder being provided with a central opening therein, there beingupper and lower chambers in said body member on opposite sides of saidshoulder, a clip'in the lower portion seated in said lower charm ber,said clip further including an upper stem extending through the openingin said shoulder, there being a gap between said stem and shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,057,186 Stirnkorb Mar. 25, 1913 1,394,426 Wade Oct. 18, 1921 1,484,335Kerrigan Feb. 19, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS 155,522 Australia Mar. 3, 1954

